A researcher who developed the tech to enable mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, and a company that garnered national and international attention for its biomanufacturing chops are among the winners of the 2022 Life Sciences BC awards.

The annual honours were revealed July 7 by Life Sciences BC (LSBC), the industry association that represents the life sciences community in B.C. 

The awards recognize the achievements and contributions of individuals, companies, and organizations that have helped advance successful health innovations and contributed to the province’s ecosystem in the last year. The 2022 recipients include:

Dr. Don Rix Award for Lifetime Achievement in Life Sciences

• Dr. Simon Pimstone

Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence

• Dr. Lauchlan Fraser 

Deal of the Year

• Precision NanoSystems

• Go deeper: With new US ownership, it's full steam ahead for BC life sciences company Precision NanoSystems Inc.

Emerging Life Sciences Company of the Year Award

• Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals

• Go deeper: B.C.’s Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. will become the first Canadian biotech startup to go public solely on the Toronto Stock Exchange in nearly two decades

Medical/Digital Technology Company of the Year

• Thrive Health

• Go deeper: NRC-IRAP taps BC innovation leaders for advisory board

Milton Wong Award for Leadership:

• adMare BioInnovations

Strategic Life Sciences Partner of the Year

• Genome BC

• Go deeper: Genome BC taps Suzanne Gill as president and CEO

Life Sciences Company of the Year

• Acuitas Therapeutics

• Also winners of the 2021 Global Impact Award: Company

Global Impact Award

• Dr. Pieter Cullis

• Also recipient of the 2021 Prince Mahidol Award for Medicine

A recent report titled B.C. Life Sciences Update 2021: Building on a Foundation of Innovation indicates that the local ecosystem has never been stronger. Released by The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade in collaboration with LSBC, it says that the province is home to the fastest-growing life sciences sector in Canada, employing more than 18,000 people at 2,000 companies. 

Vancouver also recently ranked the highest of all Canadian cities in the 2021 Life Sciences edition of the Global Startup Ecosystem Report.

LSBC president and CEO Wendy Hurlburt said that the annual accolades are meant to showcase the efforts of local people and organizations advancing biological research and drug discovery to save lives. She also added, “We congratulate this year’s award winners, as they truly reflect the extraordinary talent within B.C.’s ecosystem, and the diverse ways our community continues to make its mark on the sector worldwide through pushing the boundaries of innovation to create life-changing treatments, therapies, and technologies.”

The awardees will be recognized in person at the 24th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards gala on September 22, 2022.